Birmingham Play Bus JOJ788 last seen at Carlyle Works

[AddGee]

Hello all,

I am trying to track the history for a Birmingham play bus that operated in the late 70s, early 80s - JOJ 788.

Originally built in 1952 fleet no. 2788, a Daimler CVG6 Crossley bodied.

https://flic.kr/p/pKeoy4

The following picture is of my mom driving it in October 1978 outside Birchfield library.

https://flic.kr/p/2oQRwW4

The last bit of history I can find is these two pictures taken at Carlyle Central Works in the early or mid 80s, the second one looking in a very sorry state. Interestingly I've found info to suggest those buses seem to have been kept to restore. Also in the picture I've identified 334 CRW and UHA 991H; 334 CRW went on to be restored and is still around today, UHA 991H was apparently destined to be restored but ultimately was used for parts and later scrapped.

https://flic.kr/p/bf3Uye

https://flic.kr/p/fMuXZ5

The Carlyle Works site was eventually cleared in 1991/2, does anyone know if the buses were still there then? Or were they sold off before this? I'm really hoping someone saved JOJ788 and it's hiding away somewhere to one day be restored. I have done a HPI check and it is still on the system and not recorded as scrapped.


Any info would be greatly appreciated

 

[Vivienne14]

I've started a thread about various playbuses in and around Birmingham. Link below.

I can't be sure whether the buses referred to are the 1952 Daimler of interest here, so shall post anything I find on the thread below. VIV.

Birmingham Playbuses

Action Force Volunteers were the first to convert a Birmingham Corporation bus into a playbus in the 1970s. Here are some newspaper extracts about playbuses around the area. Source for all extracts: British Newspaper Archive Viv

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Mark Tooze]

Hi Addjee; I'm afraid I do not have photos of 2788 or 334Y - but I do have some photos of 3 of 334Y's "sisters" at Adderley St Dump in the late 1970s:-
Firstly 329 CRW:-



Next 330CRW:-



And finally 327 CRW:-



I will post full sets of photos (including interiors) on the Adderley St dump thread so as not to go too far "off topic"!

 

[Radiorails]

Those buses were from the Coventry Corporation fleet and carried the suffix 'Y' when the WMPTE took over.

 

[AddGee]

Thanks for the responses, I've found a little more info out that I'm just trying to verify:

New in July 1952, passed to WMPTE October 1969, withdrawn December 1976, passed to Birmingham Social Services March 1977, and believed to have been scrapped by 1985. Also possible it went to Aston Manor Road and was broken down for parts.